The Handler...

Today's subject: The Handler.


So if you read yesterday's post, you may have seen that I mentioned a man named Marlon. Marlon works in the Office of International Affairs and has more or less been my "handler" these past couple of days.


Yesterday he showed me around campus...helped me to join the gym, get my Internet access, and took Ryland and me grocery shopping. All nice things right? Yeah...you would think that. However, during all of those oh so wonderful adventures, the man made fun of me and/or Ryland the ENTIRE time.


Here are a few of the things that he had to say:


1. Apparently, I am more like a dude because I played sports growing up. Therefore I am "one of those girls" that would rather be butch. (SO NOT TRUE) Let me tell you, I was more than slightly offended by it. 
2. He also thinks that I use the word "ok" too much. In America, we all know that it is common place to nod your head and so ok when someone is giving you instructions to indicate that you are following what they are saying and that you are understanding. Maybe that's not so common place here...
3. He thought that Ryland and I made bland yogurt choices (we both chose vanilla so that we could add things like granola to it).
4. He also didn't approve of our peanut butter choices (we went for smooth and he insisted that we should get chunky).
5. Today he told me that I play with my hair too much (which may be true, but hey...when it's in your face it gets annoying!!)
6. He is also convinced that I don't like to go any where alone (eh...kinda true...but hey...I'm in a foreign country, where I know no one except the girls I came with...who are in longer internship weeks than I am at the current moment and don't speak the language)
7. And here is the worst part of all. I never get a choice about when I am going to the market or getting my computer set up. For example, today I didn't even know that he was taking me to get a phone and he just appeared at the hostel at 12:15. Tomorrow he's coming at the same time so that I can get wireless access on my laptop. I keep wanting to wait until at least 3 so that the other girls can come along because I know that they have things they need to get done as well....but the handler says no. 


Oh well...I guess this will be my only week of handler terrors. Hopefully after tomorrow I won't have to deal with him as much. He's a nice enough guy, but being made fun of for three consecutive days does not make you want to be someone's friend...


On a lighter note, the girls and I made spaghetti for dinner tonight and decided that we really miss American carbohydrates (granola bars, cereal, etc) and MILK. The milk here is quite disgusting and for a milk lover, that is truly a shame. Hopefully this home sickness thing will start to wear off soon. 


Nothing new to report on the internship front today...it was very similar to yesterday. Maybe more tomorrow...